Handle for mattresses and the like



March 8, 1955 M BECHlK HANDLE FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. l, 1952 INVENTOR MMM United States Patent O HANDLE FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Michael Bechik, `St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Bechik Products, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Min nesota Application October 1, 1952, Serial No. 312,564

1 Claim. (Cl. 5345) My present invention relates to improvements in handles for mattresses and the like and is in the nature of an improvement upon my earlier Patent 2,248,328.

In the structure of my above-identified patent, resilient bars secured to the inner wall of the mattress are relied upon to stretch the cord handle taut along the outside of the mattress wall when the handle is not in use. In my present structure I utilize a rigid bar on the inside of the mattress wall and an elastic cord handle-the inherent characteristics of which tend to maintain the handle taut against the outside of the mattress wall when not in use. I have found my present invention to be more desirable by virtue of the fact that the wall of the mattress is not distorted during use of the handle, because of the rigid back bar, and hence, the mattress wall is caused to retain its shape better over a period of time.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is inexpensive to produce, easy to install, which is extremely durable and pleasant to use, and which will not distort or stretch the mattress when used.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a mattress showing my handle secured to the side wall thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an optional type of back bar which may be utilized with my invention.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the letter A identities in its entirety a mattress, preferably f the inner-spring type, and having a side wall 1 formed from boxing or the like. A relative rigid back bar 2 which is more rigid than the mattress side wall 1 is stamped from sheet metal or the like and has longitudinally extended ribs 3 pressed therein for the purpose of providing the bar with more rigidity. The relative rigid bar 2 is provided adjacent its opposite ends with openings 4. The relative rigid bar 2 is secured to the inner surface 5 of the wall 1 by means of grommets 6 which project through spaced openings 7 in the mattress wall and openings 4 in said back bar. As indicated at 8, grommets 6 are peened over the back bar 2 and have radiallyaprojecting flanges 9 which are compressed against the outer surface 10 of the Wall 1.

Lying ilat along the outer surface 10 of the mattress 1 between the grommets 6, with its opposite ends projecting through the grommets 6, is an elastic cord handle 11. Secured to the opposite ends o f the elastic cord ICS handle 11, on the inside of the mattress wall, are anchoring heads 12 which have tubular portions 13 which tightly grip the handle 11, and generally axially inwardly extending narrow anchoring lingers 14. These anchoring heads 12 are of the type disclosed in my earlier Patent 2,248,328, and may pass through the openings in the grommets 6 only when the tubular portions 13 are axially aligned with the openings therein. Furthermore, the anchoring heads 12 are spaced apart on said handle 11 a distance less than the distance between the grommets 6 so that when said anchoring heads are inserted through the grommets 6 they will come into engagement with the back bar 2, as shown in Fig. 2, and retain the elastic handle 11 taut along the outer surface 10 of the wall 1 but not under any material tension. Thus, the handle 11 is always retained in a neat and tidy condition but has adequate elasticity to permit the insertion of the hand of the operator therebetween and the mattress wall 1 when it is desired to lift or transport the mattress A thereby. Obviously, when the hand of the operator is removed from between the elastic handle 11 and the mattress wall 1, the inherent elasticity of the handle 11 will return to its taut position against the Wall. On the other hand, due to the fact that the wall of the mattress is never caused to buckle during insertion of the hand therebetween and the handle 11 or during lifting of the mattress A, said wall 1 retains its flat condition free from bagginess.

In Fig. 4, I show an optional type of back bar, identified by the numeral 15. It is to be noted that the bar 15 bows inwardly between the openings 16 adjacent the opposite ends for the purpose of facilitating insertion of the hand of the operator between the elastic cord handle 11 and the mattress wall 1, where this is deemed either essential or desirable.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

In combination with a llexible mattress wall a handle comprising an elongated relative rigid bar disposed throughout its entire length in a plane adjacent to said wall, spaced grommets extending through said llexible mattress wall and through opposite end portions of said bar and securing said bar in said plane against the inside of said llexible mattress wall, an elastic cord handle extending along the outer surface of said llexible mattress wall with its free ends projecting one each through one of said grommets, anchoring heads on opposite ends of said handle inwardly of said llexible mattress wall and said bar, each of said heads comprising a tubular portion having a generally inwardly extending linger engaging the inner side of said bar to removably secure said handle to said llexible mattress wall, said heads being spaced apart on said handle prior to the insertion thereof into said grommets a distance such that when said fingers engage said bar when the heads are inserted therethrough said elastic handle will be stretched and held taut along the exterior of said llexible mattress wall with said bar supporting said llexible mattress wall intermediate said grommets against inward movement thereof by retaining said grommets in said spaced relation to each other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,807 Bechik Oct. 29, 1946 1,875,121 Olson Aug. 30, 1932 2,083,361 Bronstien June 8, 1937 2,086,489 Bowersox July 6, 1937 2,248,328 Bechik July 8, 1941 

